Insegurança alimentar e estado nutricional dos usuários da Cozinha Comunitária Santa Vitória do município de Santa Cruz do Sul/RS.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to identify the nutritional profile of the users of the Santa Vitoria Community Kitchen in the municipality of Santa Cruz do Sul / RS and to investigate possible associations with food insecurity. It is a cross-sectional study with a random sample of 46 users, between the ages of 18 and 78 years old. A questionnaire was applied with sociodemographic variables, also the short version of the Food Security Scale was applied and weight and height were measured. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to present the distribution of food insecurity scores in the different categories of independent variables. 91.3% of the users were food insecure, and 63% were in a state of insecurity and hunger. Approximately 48.2%; were overweight. The variable that showed a significant association with food insecurity (p 0.05) was the age of the 46 users of the communal kitchen, 47.8% were in the age group from 31 to 59 years old and 41.3% at 60 years of age or more, with a prevalence of male users. The interviewees presented a high prevalence of food and nutritional insecurity, as determined in this population, due to low family income and low food variety. Even though the study did not show significant differences between the other variables, it highlights the need for more effective public policies, which, in fact, guarantee food security for the most vulnerable populations.